Human propensity to perceive faces in random patterns or objects everywhere, a phenomenon known as Pareidolia
In the realm of human cognition, there exists a curious and captivating phenomenon known as pareidolia. This common experience, which many people have encountered at some point in their lives, even if they did not know what it was called, is the brain's tendency to find meaningful shapes, especially faces, in vague or random stimuli.
Pareidolia is not exclusive to religious or supernatural images; it can occur with any familiar shape. For instance, people often find faces in clouds, cars, and other inanimate objects, a very common form of pareidolia that people notice daily. The viral trend on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where people share images or videos of faces appearing unexpectedly in wallpaper patterns, walls, or urban surfaces, is a testament to this.
Famous "miraculous" sightings, such as faces or figures seen in religious icons, food, or natural elements, often spark social or pop culture discussions. The phenomenon is sometimes referenced in art and streetwear culture, where random patterns form perceived meaningful images—referred to as a classic example of pareidolia.
One such example of pareidolia can be found on Mars, where NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured a famous heart-shaped crater in a specific region. While some heart-shaped formations on Mars are impact craters, others are eroded rock patterns, but some look close to perfect by chance.
This cognitive bias also plays a significant role in our everyday lives. For example, we tend to see faces in various objects, such as the front of cars, due to the placement of headlights (eyes), grilles (mouths), and bumpers (expressions).
Intriguingly, pareidolia may be a result of the brain's information processing systems. The fusiform gyrus in the temporal lobe of the cortex, responsible for facial recognition, might be involved in this process.
Pareidolia has even made its way into popular culture, with Pixar movies like Cars relying on our subconscious tendency to make characters emotionally relatable. In the world of literature, Harry Potter was able to talk to his godfather in the Gryffindor common room fireplace because of pareidolia, according to some experts.
Perhaps the most notable example of pareidolia's impact on society occurred in 2004, when a woman in Florida claimed to see the face of the Virgin Mary on her grilled cheese sandwich and sold it on eBay for $28,000. Similarly, in 2002, a woman named Sheela Antony in Bangalore, India, saw an image of Christ on a burned roti and claimed it as a miracle, attracting 20,000 Christians who came to see the supposed miracle.
In conclusion, pareidolia, while a simple cognitive bias, plays a significant role in shaping our perceptions and experiences. It serves as a reminder of the human brain's incredible ability to find meaning in the most unexpected places.
- Pareidolia does not only influence religious and supernatural perceptions; it significantly impacts our lifestyle, as evidenced by the fashion-and-beauty industry's use of random patterns to create perceived meaningful images.
- In addition, home-and-garden hobbies, such as cloud gazing, might unintentionally offer an opportunity for people to indulge in pareidolia, discovering faces in wallpaper patterns or urban surfaces.
